BigGameHunt.net Hunting Forums

moderator · Joined: 27 Jan 2002 Posts: 6655

Full Story:
Pennsylvania Man Found Guilty of Illegal Mountain Lion Possession

Please use this area to post comments or questions about this news item.

fire6469 · Joined: 11 Oct 2002 Posts: 15 Location: pennsylvania

Anybody who does something like that and then calls himself a sportsman is an idiot. Poaching takes every meany out of the word. I am sorry that people associate themselves with us and give us a bad name.

adrastea · Joined: 27 Oct 2002 Posts: 3

Where to begin?

The person in this news article is a family member of mine, and I would like to say that he never once claimed to be a "sportsman" nor does he associate himself with you.

What no one told you is that they illegally broke into his house without a warrent and illegally siezed this animal. Then they called me on the telephone and asked if he was around, when I said no, they said, "Tell him his friend from Harrisburg wants to talk to him" - some friend, right?

If anyone wants to contact him, you can go through me at sam@optikalillusions.net.

moderator · Joined: 27 Jan 2002 Posts: 6655

To clarify, the man in question was prosecuted for illegal possession, not poaching. It does appear that the cougar was obtained legally in VA, but was not properly permitted in PA. Thus the seizure/charge/conviction.

Adrastea, will Mr. Bressi be appealing the conviction on grounds of illegal search/seizure?

If one wishes to possess a natural predator, I think it should be declawed and have incisors cut down at the least. According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, when confiscated the cat was not declawed.

adrastea · Joined: 27 Oct 2002 Posts: 3

You are correct, the owner did purchase the cougar legally, and was charged with not obtaining proper permits.

At this moment, I cannot comment on his legal plans regarding the illegal search/seizure. If any information does come up, I will let you know.

[ This Message was edited by: adrastea on 2002-11-11 22:50 ]

zookeeper · Joined: 14 Feb 2003 Posts: 1 Location: Phoenix

Dear Moderator: For a person claiming to be a knowledgeable source on game animals, you sure are a moron. In regards to all large cats, not just mountain lions, it is a horrible thing to declaw them. Their claws are directly joined to bone, and declawing seriously affects their natural balance and climbing ability. It would be the exact equivalent of chopping off your fingers to their first knuckle. It is extremely painful to the cat as well. For the sake of all of us who are truly knowlegeable about the subject, and apparently you are not, I sincerely hope someone chops off your fingers. Then you'll know what its like. Also, may I suggest you actually read a book and learn something before you act like an expert? That is, if you and any of the rednecks who post on this site know how to read.

cowgal · Joined: 10 Mar 2002 Posts: 979 Location: Colorado

zookeeper: note that the news article this thread is referring to was released by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, not by anyone on this forum including the moderator. Pennsylvania law was being quoted in reference to the declawing.

I personally do not condone keeping wild animals as pets, especially not mountain lions. Its inhumane. I seriously doubt that most true sportsmen (or women) would condone that either.

Get your facts straight before you start spouting off.

[ This Message was edited by: cowgal on 2003-02-15 22:10 ]

moderator · Joined: 27 Jan 2002 Posts: 6655

Hello Zookeeper,

Your thoughtful post really added to the discussion, thanks for dropping by. Its not everyday I get called a moron, a redneck, illiterate, and be wished bodily harm. Your quite talented, by some creative miracle you were able to combine all four of these items into one post. I assume your incredible posting powers are simply a result of your highly evolved cerebrum, perhaps from a lifetime of reading books. With your cognitive powers I'm sure you are just oozing with erudition. Indeed, I feel completely inadequate trying to reply to your crushing brain power (seeing as how I'm just a "redneck") but, alas, I will try.

There is little doubt that onychectomy is a painful operation for the cat in question. Certainly the loss of the ability to claw and climb trees is an obvious outcome, but as for long term loss of balance I cannot say because as you so eloquently point out "I'm not an expert".

Lets assume your right on the loss of balance issue. However, I won't renege on my opinion, if people want to keep big cats as pets they should be declawed. Pet dogs will occasionally attack, maim, and kill people. It is safe to say that the risk with big cats, especially if they are not properly cared for and secured, is even higher than domesticated dogs. Why risk the chance of a big cat (somebodies "pet") harming somebody when they get loose? If onychetomy causes a "pet" big cat to lose their "natural balance"; I don't care. It is far better to have a lot of wobbly big cat pets than to have one accidental human maiming/death at the claws (and incisors for that matter) of an insecure "pet".

If you feel declawing big cats is inhumane, your time would be better served preventing big cats from becoming pets, rather than blasting those that would ask for simple precautionary securement of what is otherwise a dangerous predator.

adrastea · Joined: 27 Oct 2002 Posts: 3

Zookeeper is correct with the declawing issue. Declawing a cougar, mountain lion, and any other wild cat does greatly affect their balance. I do not consider you a moron Moderator, and I understand your opinion on the whole declawing is much safer than running the risk of having something terrible happen if the cat were to get loose.

However, you need to realize, that in this particular case, Mr. Bressi had only purchased the cat less than a month prior and was currently obtaining permits and taking precautionary measures. Many people will probably think, "Well, that's not fast enough." But we are all human, and we all know that things don't get done overnight.

Thank you for your active participation in this topic.

hunter777 · Joined: 28 Oct 2003 Posts: 1473

He'd make a better rug than a "pet"

MonkeyHunter · Joined: 26 Oct 2004 Posts: 5

I think its horrible to have a wild predator as a pet. Well at least bears and big cats. Just let it grow up in its natural habitat (if it was a wild animal in the first place) Then hunt it or whatever but why rip the claws outta the poor thing just so u can have it as a pet?